GUIDE TO COUNTY - ”The Garden of ”

GENERAL ORIENTATION

The scenery and attractions of Wicklow lie between the main N11 route that runs north-south to the east of the county and the N81 that also runs north-south to the west.

To the east of the N11 is the coast with a number of historic towns and several excellent beaches.

Wicklow is a large county just south of the But famous worldwide is the beautiful Greater area. It’s boundaries can , the valley of the two lakes, a loosley be described as being from the monastic settlement built in the 6th century seaside town of Bray to the northeast, and still exuding a sense of peace and and the splendid Blessington tranquility. Lakes to the northwest, town to the southeast and the town of (Co. is a land of domed granite Carlow) to the southwest. mountains and purple glens, of soft rolling hills and silvery streams. Wicklow, ‘The Garden of Ireland’, is a natural scenic wonderaldn, a landscape rich in As well as the natural beauty, Wicklow is breathtaking scenery. Renowned as a land of famed for it many manor houses and gardens, majextic mountains and spectacular valleys many open to the public. The Wicklow like Glenmalure, Glencree and Glenmacnass Gardens Festival runs each May & June and the magnificent Glen of Imaal. where many private gardens also open for a few weeks.

GUIDE TO COUNTY WICKLOW - ”The Garden of Ireland”

WICKLOW XGLENDALOUGH HIGHLIGHTS The most visited location in County Wicklow is Glendalough Glendalough (Valley of the Two Lakes), the home of ancient Ireland’s monastic Glen of Imaal th Vale of Avoca settlements. Founded in the 6 Century by St. Kevin, Glendalough exudes a sense of Powerscourt peace and tranquility despite the large Blessington Lakes number of visitors. Sally Gap Glemalure Waterfall Glenmacnass The Meeting of the Waters are just north of Avoca where the Rivers Avonmore and Avonbeg form the

There is an excellent visitor centre as well as the Round Tower and Monastic sites. X AVOCA VALLEY

Glendalough is 2 miles west of the village of From Arklow to Rathdrum, through the Laragh. picturesque villages of and Avoca lies the Avoca Valley, an area of X GLEN OF IMAAL outstanding natural beauty.

The Meeting of the Waters, Avoca Village and To the south of Blessington is the wonderful the Motte Stone are the principal attractions. Glendalough Round Glen of Imaal, a valley that is surrounded by Tower (7th Century) a ring of high mountain peaks. Avoca village is famous for crafts and has a gift shop. Check out Fitzgeralds Pub and see These peaks provide a haven for montaineers if the local traditional band are in session. and climbers but otherwise are as unspoilt and peaceful as you could wish for. is situated to the south of Rathdrum. Nearby is the Dwyer McAllister Cottage, a monument to Irish rebel leader Michael Dwyer There is a beautifully set and very pleasant who escaped from British troops in 1799. golf course at Woodenbridge.

The Avoca River flows into the X SALLY GAP through the maritime town of Arklow, famour for its shipbuilding as well as for its pottery. Sally Gap is a crossroads high in the mountains from where there are spectacular views over the Wicklow Mountians towards Dublin Bay.

Powerscourt Falls Nearby is , not as visually striking as Powerscourt, but with impressive views from the top as it cascasdes 300-feet to the valley below.

One of the Peaks Surrounding the Glen of Imaal is Lugnaquillia, known by climbers as “The Lug”

GUIDE TO COUNTY WICKLOW - ”The Garden of Ireland”

X GLEMALURE X POWERSCOURT Glenmalue is Ireland’s longest glacial valley located to the south of the village of Laragh. Powerscourt House boasts one of the worlds There are many spectacular walks here with great gardens, with 47 acres of formal the Avonbeg River the only sound breaking gardens on a beautiful estate that also fatures the silence is this majestic and peaceful sweeping terraces, statuary and ornamental valley. lakes, rambling walks and over 200 species fo

trees and shrubs.

Glenmalure Valley

The 18th Century Palladian House now has an exhibition telling the stort of the estate as well as well as incorporating a mini-shopping centre and a terrace café. X HOUSES AND GARDENS The Powerscourt Waterall tumbels 400 feet over a granite escaprment about 3 m iles from , near Blessington, is Powerscourt Gardens. the finest Palladian House in Ireland and contains collections of paintings, antiques, silver and porcelain. X BLESSINGTON LAKES Kilruddery House and Gardens, south of

Bray, is a fine Elizabethan mansion, home to Avoca River Set in the foothills of the , the Brabazon family (Earls of Meath) since the Blessington Lakes were formed 50 years 1618. The formal gardens, laid out in 1680, ago by the building of the Poulaphuca Dam are the oldest in Ireland and hydro-electric power station.

Mount Usher Gardens, near Ashford, are set in 20 acres of beautiful woodland by the Vartry River. The gradens boast over 5,00 species of trees.

Wicklow Gardens

Accessible via the Wicklow Gap from Laragh, it is worth taking a detour along the eastern side of the lakes through the remote village of . Avondale House, near Rathdrum, was the birthplace of in 1846. Set in a magnificent forest park of over 500 acres along the banks of the with a variety of walks.